When to Use Grid Charts

The grid chart is designed to allow the display of small tabular data sets. Since it is also possible to use the Reporting gadget to include tabular data in a dashboard, you should consider whether the grid chart or the Reporting gadget is the better way to present the data.

Grid charts have inbuilt sort settings which override the report parameter sorting feature. The grid chart uses report parameters sort settings by default. Once a user sorts the grid using the grid sort options, it overrides and deactivates the report parameter sort functionality.

Data Type

Reporting Gadget Capabilities

Grid Chart Capabilities

Real Time and Historical

Displays real-time or historical data differently.

  • Report style can be edited in Report Builder.

  • Reports can include super headers, grouping and sub-totals. Report can be sorted by clicking on a column heading.

  • Can include trend arrow columns.

  • Presents real-time or historical data in a consistent format.

  • Fixed report style.

  • Columns can be moved by drag-&-drop, or hidden altogether, without editing the report in Report Builder.

  • Trend arrow columns not supported.

  • Can show the total row only.

Historical only

  • Fixed column widths (can only be resized in Report Builder).

  • Improved performance for larger reports (e.g. over 800 rows) since data is paginated and one page is loaded at a time.

  • Columns widths are resized to fit the space available within the gadget.

  • No pagination so not recommended for larger reports (e.g. over 800 rows).
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